Jeff Sparrow on the need to save ourselves from the sickishness of the New Atheists

[Whateverist]

Here's the difference they don't like:

Yeah, but that isn't the reality. The ones being called New Atheists are often missionaries. And I for one don't care for missionaries, regardless if they're spewing shit in favor of religion or for any other cause.

Simplistic, far removed from reality and ultimately not what this is about. Show me one atheist staying quiet when challenged. The difference being if you're riding Rosinante into the ban all religions challenge and want to force atheism down everyone's throat without consent. It also presents the false image of an organised community. I for one have nothing in common with many atheists, aside from not believing.

I feel you.  I'm also a known sympathizer.  But I find I have plenty in common with some atheists, and any disconnect seems to be as much because of my curmudgeonly unwillingness to go along to get along over the small stuff.  But I find plenty to like and plenty of like minded among the godless.

The thing that separates me is my willingness to acknowledge an inward sense of helpful otherness.  Now I attribute that to the unconscious and find it both valuable and comforting in its way.  But I know there are plenty in the nothing-but what you have evidence for camp, regardless of the phenomenology of ones inward experience.  Either I'm too loose or others are too self censoring, but I know whose side I'm on.